Bottle carrier



Jan. 10, 1961 J. M. VERSACK 2,967,641

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 25, 1957 BQTTLE CARRIER .lohn M. Versaclr, 1612 18th Ave, Rockford, Ill. Filed Oct. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 691,921

6 Claims. ((11. 220--'111) Another object of this invention is to provide a carrier.

for bottles and the like having an improved collapsible handle construction which may be collapsed when the carrier is filled with bottles to permit stacking of filled carriers, one on top of the other, with the superimposed carriers supported on the top of the bottles in the carrier therebelow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible bottle carrier which may be fabricated and assembled at a small cost and which is efiicient and durable m use.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bottle carrier in an erected condition;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bottle carrier shown in a collapsed condition;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the carrier, with the handle thereof in a collapsed condition;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, taken on the plane 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 66 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the plane 7-7 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the bottle carrier includes a flat base 10 formed of sheet metal and having opposed side portions bent upwardly to form upstanding flanges 11 along opposite sides of the base. A plurality of openings 12 are provided in the upstanding flanges and spaced longitudinally thereon a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles or other containers to be transported in the carrier. A plurality of generally U-shaped bails are mounted on the base and each include a web portion 13 having a length corresponding to the width of the base 10 and depending leg portions 14. The ends of the leg portions i iare bent inwardly to provide inwardly extending projections 15 which are inserted through the transversely aligned pairs of openings in the opposed flanges 11 to thereby support the bails on the base for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally of the latter. The inner ends of the projections 15 are riveted or staked to form a head 16 and thereby prevent accidental detachment of the bails from the base.

States Patent ice The bails are maintained in approximate parallel rela tionship by means of a plurality of metal straps and, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, there are provided spaced side straps 18 and an intermediate strap 19 located midway between the side straps. The straps 18 and 19] have a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 21 and 22 respectively which are spaced apart a distance corresponding tothe spacing of the holes 12. in the flanges 11, which holes are arranged to loosely receive the web portions 13 of the bails. Washers 23 and 24 are provided at the inner and outer sides of the strapsltl, on at least the end bails of the carrier, and the web portions 13 of the bails are staked to provide protrusions 25 on opposite sides of the straps 18 for constraining the latter against axial movement on the web portions of the bails. The web portions of the bails are similarly staked to provide protrusions 26 on opposite sides of the intermediate strap 19, to prevent lateral displacement thereof. As is apparent, the web portions 13 of the bails and the straps 18 and 19 form an open grid-type structure arranged to engage the side portions of the bottles or other containers on the carrier at a level above the base to maintain the containers in proper position on the carrier.

A collapsible handle construction is provided on the carrier and arranged to be collapsed between the longitudinal rows of bottles on the carrier to permit stacking of the carriers, one on top of the other with the bottom of one carrier supported on the tops of the bottles in the carrier therebelow. The handle construction includes an elongated bar 31, herein shown in the form of a flat strap, arranged to extend longitudinally of the carrier. Openings 32 are provided adjacent opposite ends of the handle member and attachment members 33, conveniently formed of wire, are provided with lateral projections 34- which extend through the openings 32 in the handle and swingably support the attachment members thereon. The ends of the projections 34 are riveted to provide a head 35 for preventing accidental detachment of the attaching portions 33. The attaching portions are mounted for axial sliding and pivotal movement on the intermediate strap 19 by means of .pintles, herein shown in the form of eye-bolts 36 (see Fig. 6). The eye-bolts are each rotatably received in an opening 38 in the intermediate strap 19, and the end of the eye-bolt is riveted to provide a head 39. Each eye-bolt is thus rotatably supported on the intermediate strap and slidably receives one of the attachment members 33. The lower ends of the attachment members are riveted to provide a head 44 for preventing detachment of the members 33 from the eye-bolts. As is apparent, the members 33 are slidable on the eyebolts to permit collapsing of the handle member 31 between the longitudinal rows of bottles on the carrier, as shown in Figure 3, to thereby permit stacking of the carriers, one on top of the other. In addition, the handle member 31 is swingably supported by the eye-bolt on the intermediate member 19, to thereby permit folding of the handle member to a position such as shown in Figure 2, for compact storage of the bottle carrier. Preferably, the two eye-bolts 3d are mounted on relatively opposite sides of the intermediate strap 19 and the attachment members 33 arranged to extend from relatively opposite sides of the handle 31, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Provision is made for releasably retaining the carrier in its erected condition and for this purpose the flanges 11 are formed with inwardly depressed vertically extending channels 51 which intersect the holes 12 adjacent the ends of the flanges, and which channels are arranged to receive the leg portions of the end bails on the carrier. A cross piece 52 is secured to the leg portions 14 of each of the end bails as by welding, and is arranged to oppose spreading of the leg portions 14. When erected, the leg portions 14 of the end bails are seated in the vertically dis posed channels 51. The bails are made sufliciently resilient so that, when the carrier is collapsed, the portions of the legs 14, below the cross piece 52, are deflected outwardly and move to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. In addition, the intermediate bails are releasably retained in an erected position by outwardly extending protrusions 54 (see Fig. 5), formed in the flanges 11 on the base and disposed on opposite sides of the leg portions 14, when the latter are in an upright position.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the bottle carrier can be easily and economically fabricated from sheet stock and wire. When erected, the legs 14 of the end bails are seated in the channels 51 and the leg portions of the intermediate bails are disposed between protrusions 54 formed in the flange 11 so as to be releasably retained thereby in an erected condition. The web portions 13 of the bails and the straps 18 and 19 engage the sides of the bottles to maintain the latter in position on the carrier and in spaced relation from each other. The handle 31 is collapsible between the longitudinal rows of bottles on the carrier so as to thereby permit the carriers to be stacked, one on top of the other, with the upper carrier supported on the tops of the bottles of the carrier therebelow. When storing the empty carrier, the bails are swingable in a direction longitudinally of the base so that the straps 18 and 19 swing downwardly to a folded position on top of the flanges 11, such as shown in Figure 2, and the handle 31 is swingable and slidable relative to the intermediate strap to thereby form a compact package.

When the carrier is partially or completely filled with bottles, the carrier cannot be collapsed and the bottles cannot be accidentally discharged therefrom during transportation or storage of the carrier. As previously described, the bottles to be carried are loosely received between the web portion 33 of the bails, when the carrier is in an erect condition. However, as the carrier begins to fold toward the position shown in Fig. 2, the bottles in the carrier begin to tilt until they become firmly bound between the web portion 13 on adjacent bails. Further movement of the carrier to a collapsed condition is therefore inhibited. This is of importance during both carrying and stacking of the filled carriers since it precludes complete collapse of the carrier and accidental discharge of the bottles therefrom. In practice, even when the carrier is unevenly loaded, as when only one or two bottles are disposed therein adjacent one end of the carrier, the latter will not completely collapse or permit the bottle to he accidentally discharged therefrom.

I claim:

1. A bottle carrier comprising a sheet metal tray having upturned flanges along opposite sides adapted to engage the lower end of a bottle to prevent movement of the bottle laterally off the tray, said flanges each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles to be carried with each hole in one flange aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposite flange, a plurality of U-shaped wire bails each including spaced parallel leg portions and a connecting web portion dimensioned to span the space between said flanges, said bails having lateral ends on the leg portions pivotally received in aligned ones of said holes in said flanges, at least three spaced metal bars each having a plurality of holes therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes in said flanges, a pair of said bars being mounted on said web portions adjacent opposite ends thereof with the web portions extending through the holes in the side bars, the other of said bars being mounted on said web portions intermediate said pair of bars with said web portions extending through the holes therein, said other bar being spaced from one of said pair of bars a distance substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent ones of said holes therein to thereby define substantially square bottle receiving openings between adjacent bails, means on said web portions for preventing axial sliding movement of said bars thereon, and means formed on said flanges for engaging the legs of said bails to releasably retain said bails in an upright position, said web portions of adjacent bails being adapted to engage opposite sides of a bottle therebetween when said bails are moved out of said upright position to clamp the bottle and prevent full collapse of the carrier.

2. A bottle carrier comprising a sheet metal tray having upturned flanges along opposite sides adapted to engage the lower end of a bottle to prevent movement of the bottle laterally off the tray, said flanges each having a plurality of longitudindally' spaced holes therein spaced apart a distance slighly greater than the diameter of the bottles to be carried with each hole in one flange aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposite flange, a plurality of U-shapecl Wire bails each including spaced parallel leg portions and a connecting web portion dimensioned to span the space between said flanges, said bails having lateral ends on the leg portions pivotally received in aligned ones of said holes in said flanges, at least three spaced metal bars each having a plurality of holes therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes in said flanges, a pair of said bars being mounted on said web portions adjacent opposite ends thereof with the web portions extending through the holes in the side bars, the other of said bars being mounted on said web portions intermediate said pair of bars with said web portions extending through the holes therein, said other bar being spaced from one of said pair of bars a distance substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent ones of said holes therein to thereby define substantially square bottle receiving openings between adjacent bails, lateral protrusions on said web portions of said bails for preventing axial sliding of said bars therealong, and detents on said flanges above the holes therein and on opposite sides of the legs of said bails, when the latter are in an upright position, for releasably retaining said carrier in an erect condition said web portions of adjacent bails being adapted to engage opposite sides of a bottle therebetween when the bails are moved out of said upright position to clamp the bottles and prevent full collapse of the carrier.

3. A bottle carrier comprising a sheet metal tray having upturned flanges along opposite sides adapted to engage the lower end of a bottle to prevent movement of the bottle laterally off the tray, said flanges each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles to be carried with each hole in one flange aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposite flange, a plurality of U-shaped wire bails each including spaced parallel leg portions and a connecting web portion dimensioned to span the space between said flanges, said bails having inturned ends on the leg portions pivotally received in aligned ones of said holes in said flanges, at least three spaced metal bars each having a plurality of holes therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes in said flanges, a pair of said bars being mounted on said web portions adjacent opposite ends thereof with the web portions extending through the holes in the side bars, the other of said bars being mounted on said web portions intermediate said pair of bars with said web portions extending through the holes therein, said other bar being spaced from one of said pair of bars a distance substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent ones of said holes therein to thereby define substantially square bottle receiving openings between adjacent bails, means on said web portions of said bails for preventing axial sliding movement of said bars therealong, vertically disposed channels depressed inwardly of said flanges in alignment with the holes adjacent the ends of the flanges to receive the legs of the end bails, and a cross piece attached to the legs of the bails mounted in said holes adjacent the ends of the flanges and spaced below the web portions of said bails to restrain outward movement of the legs and thereby releasably retain the end bails in an upright position seated in said depressed channels. said web portions of adjacent bails being adapted to engage opposite sides of a bottle therebetween when the bails are moved out of an upright position to clamp the bottle and prevent full collapse of the carrier.

4. A bottle carrier comprising a sheet metal tray having upturned flanges along opposite sides, said flanges each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles to be carried with each hole in one flange aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposite flange, a plurality of U-shaped wire bails each including spaced parallel leg portions and a connecting web portion dimensioned to span the space between said flanges, said bails having inturned ends on the leg portions pivotally received in aligned ones of said holes in said flanges, three spaced metal bars each having a plurality of holes therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes in said flanges, a pair of said bars being mounted on said web portions adjacent opposite ends thereof with the web portions extending through the holes in the side bars, the other of said bars being mounted on said web portions intermediate said pair of bars with said web portions extending through the holes therein, a carrying handle including an elongated grip portion and attachment portions mounted on said grip portion for pivotal movement relative thereto in a plane extending longitudinally of the grip portion, and means mounting the attachment portions on the other of said bars for axial sliding and pivotal movement relative to the bar in a plane extending longitudinally thereof to permit the handle to be compactly collapsed and folded with said carrier.

5. A bottle carrier comprising a sheet metal tray having upturned flanges along opposite sides, said flanges each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles to be carried with each hole in one flange aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposite flange, a plurality of U-shaped wire bails each including spaced parallel leg portions and a connecting web portion dimensioned to span the space between said flanges, said bails having inturned ends on the leg portions pivotally received in aligned ones of said holes in said flanges, three spaced metal bars each having a plurality of holes therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes in said flanges, a pair of said bars being mounted on said web portions adjacent opposite ends thereof with the web portions extending through the holes in the side bars, the other of said bars being mounted on said web portions intermediate said pair of bars with said web portions extending through the holes therein, a pair of pintles rotatably mounted on said other of said bars at spaced points therealongfor movement about axes parallel to said web portions of said bails, a carrying handle including an elongated grip portion and attachment portions mounted on said grip portion for pivotal movement relative thereto in a plane extending longitudinally of the grip portion, said attachment portions being slidably mounted in said pintles to permit said carrying handle to be compactly collapsed and folded with said carrier.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said one of said attachment portions is disposed on one side of said other bar and grip portion and the other attachment portion is disposed on the relatively opposite side thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 132,450 Darnell Oct. 22, 1872 449,007 Spain Mar. 24, 1891 550,518 Marquis Nov. 26, 1895 679,730 Coughlan Aug. 6, 1901 985,113 Conrad Feb. 21, 1911 2,007,250 Kellner July 9, 1935 

